Field notes when you pursue higher education: If you are a monster assassin on a college campus, it is advisable to find your niche, stake your claim, and subtly let your presence be known. College is a hive of activity, sometimes literally. Vampire chicks are super attractive, and it''s not uncommon if they sleep all day, and a hickey is not always a hickey. If you’re not physical, use your time sparing at the gym, and don’t play college sports. They are hunting grounds for a few wild kinds of ogres, werewolves, and trolls, but there have only been a handful of cases since 2000.
Lauren had woken up and would have said it had been the wrong side of the bed if not for a vicious killer slicing off the heads of college student-age employees at a craft store coupled with a car bomb, and more police, security, and even people that looked like the FBI.
Can the world wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Was the world ending? There had been plenty to worry about, and Lauren felt out of place and agitated for most of her day. The campus was full of chatter, but the daily routine didn’t seem all that hindered, even with more armed security patrolling the buildings and maintaining an active patrol on interconnecting paths between the buildings, the courtyard, the fountain, and the campus gardens. Lauren had told herself that this semester was going to be a fantastic one, and she made her best effort, but as her day progressed, she couldn''t quite put her finger on any particular reason why it felt odd. She had completed all her assignments, she had good friends and she had much to look forward to once the holidays were in full swing.
Lauren crossed through the library and felt several eyes watching her and a smell lingered in the air. No one said anything directly to her. As far as she could tell, her outfit wasn’t too revealing. She had no gum on her shoes and the fall weather hadn’t ruined her hair or her makeup. Halloween excitement was rich across campus. The energy was so intoxicating that Lauren was sure a person could cut it with a knife. Lauren took a hard look at every advertisement and poster on the walls, and she got all the details from students pitching their activities, everything from a haunted hallway to a dance in the large gymnasium in the health science building. Lauren cruised through the student center food court, which was full of fried food, Asian food, breakfast items students could buy at any point throughout the day, hot chocolate, hot coffee, and Lauren inhaled deeply pumpkin spice.
By late afternoon, though, Lauren felt herself shivering sporadically, and something on the inside told her to be on her guard. Lauren moved to the back of the class and somehow felt a bit more self-assured when she had her back against the wall. Lauren decided to be the last person in the lecture hall, and an itch on the back of her neck told her not to stop. She had to keep moving.
I need a break. Lauren thought longing for her oversight hoodie and her beanbag chair. The sweet aromas and cool fall air filled Lauren with bliss and short-lived mental pleasure. This type of year was supposed to be fun, yet the shivers lingered, and nothing on her schedule could stop her from glancing over her shoulder. No one was ever there, and Lauren paused. Her friend tapped her on the shoulder.
Did I just flinch?
“You know, Lauren, you seem a little on edge today,” some of her friends would say. She liked to work hard, and many of her fears were unwarranted. The campus had a stellar reputation and a few poor behaviors for which they had zero tolerance. Lauren had never heard of any scandals, and the more colorful personalities had at least the backbone to stay off campus.
“Let''s keep the walkways clear!” an officer called out in a mellow tone. “and keep your eyes open for anyone with an axe!”
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Lauren’s friends exchanged glances.
“That wasn’t very professional!”
“Did he just warn us to look out for someone with an AXE!”
“I thought a ninja did the thing at the store.”
By 5 pm, Lauren felt her exhaustion kick in as her caffeine intake had worn off. She welcomed the chance to go home despite the authority’s best efforts to ease tensions and not raise alarms. The night had really changed the campus’s temperament. The police were still there; some seemed relaxed, while others looked tense, concerned, or a strange mix of both. There were fewer students, and the facilities workers gradually closed up buildings for the night, which included some of the interconnecting bridges that offered refuge during stormy weather and helped kids get to class on time from some of the more distant parking lots. Lauren yawned and covered her mouth as she left the lobby, and she shook herself awake.
Two more classes. Come on Lauren, you can do this!
Lauren had never seen the campus practically deserted. Those who had been in the same class, while talkative during class, had immediately become reserved, if not timid, and the color was absent from their complexions.
“Good night!” Lauren called, but no one replied. In fact, she hadn’t seen anyone leave campus faster. She crossed the parking lot, spinning her key ring around her finger. Lauren propped her backpack on the seat and stuck the key in the ignition. She didn’t know a lot about cars, but she knew the sounds they should make. A pit formed in her stomach as her engine’s gentle purr turned into an ear-splitting squelch.
Lauren placed her hands on the stirring wheel and tried a second time, and after a brief pause, she tried a third.
“Ah,” Lauren huffed, “Ok, did my life become a horror movie?”
Lauren straightened, and she glimpsed the shadows, her mind spinning about the Main Street strike and the savage axe murderer. Lauren’s fingers popped and trembled as she reached for her purse. Seconds ticked away, Lauren couldn’t pull her eyes off the shadows, and her heart thumped hard in her chest. She glanced toward her rear-view mirror but didn’t dare adjust. She clicked the lock button, and thankfully, the locks still worked. Although it did little to make her comfortable,
Lauren gripped her cell phone and tried to call her dad but got no response. She hurried and typed out a text message.
Dad, I’m on campus, and my car won’t start. It was working fine this morning.
Her phone pinged the alert that the message had been sent. Lauren set the phone on her stomach, and the pit made her feel ill as she waited for a reply.
Dad: I’m sorry to hear that, honey. I just got pulled into a meeting. I was three feet away from the front door. It sounds pretty serious, and I’m not sure how long its going to take. Is your mom still at her seminar or conference thing?
Mom: No, it’s over, and that’s not good sweetie. I just got to the hospital. I’m two hours away.
Lauren set her phone aside and rested her hands on the steering wheel. Most businesses were closed, and she could probably get a ride home from one of her friends, but they were all back at their apartments. Would they come out?
Feeling ill and jumpy, Lauren took a few minutes and scrolled through social media. There were the typical posts: political, social, random food posts, and cat pictures, but nothing had really changed since this morning. Lauren glanced at her friend''s list; she couldn’t just sit here. Was there someone she could call? Once posts regarding the Axe murderer and the Main Street Strike appeared on her feed, Lauren signed off and moved to the campus directory.
There are no suspects, no leads, and no cause for alarm. Lauren yipped and dropped her phone, and a car rocketed past with multiple people hooting and catcalling over the engine. Lauren placed her hands on the dashboard to steady herself. Then she looked at the street; there was plenty of light, and it wasn’t quite dark. Did she dare walk home?
Lauren took a burst of courage and scanned the directory, finding Emma Foster near the top of the page. Laurent clicked on the profile. There''s no harm in asking, right? It''s always good to have a friend, and she lived at home to boot; if she didn’t feel up to coming, maybe she’d come with one of her parents. Lauren’s finger dwindled over the phone icon, and then she clicked it.
“Hello,” Emma''s voice said over the other end of the line.
“Hey, Emma, it''s Lauren.”